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The test is indicated for patients with malignant lesions of type 2 and 3 in whom nasopharyngeal carcinoma is suspected; eg, patients with metastases to the cervical lymph nodes from an unknown primary source.

Infection with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) usually occurs early in life. For several weeks to months after acute onset of the infection, it is spread by upper respiratory secretions that contain the virus.

Among the clinical disorders due to EBV infections, infectious mononucleosis is most common. Other disorders due to EBV infection have been recognized for several years, including African-type Burkitt lymphoma and nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The World Health Organization (WHO) classifies NPC as type 1 (keratinizing squamous cell carcinoma), type 2 (nonkeratinizing squamous cell carcinoma), and type 3 (undifferentiated carcinoma).

EBV infection also may cause lymphoproliferative syndromes, especially in patients who have undergone renal or bone marrow transplantation and in those who have AIDS.

It should be noted that there are some patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma whose serum will contain antibodies to the early antigen (EBVE / Epstein-Barr Virus [EBV], IgG Antibody to Early Antigen, Serum) of the virus but not antibodies to the viral capsid antigen and vice versa.